1/17. Malignant melanoma of the oesophagus: clinicopathological features, lack of p53 expression and steroid receptors and a review of the literature.AIMS: Fortunately, primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus is a rare entity. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinicopathological features, p53 over-expression and steroid receptors in oesophageal melanomas and to review the reported cases in the literature. methods: Melanomas reported during a 15-year period (1982-1996) in the Queen Mary Hospital were studied. The clinicopathological features and survival data of patients with oesophageal melanomas were noted. Representative tissue was collected from each tumour and immunohistochemical preparations for HMB-45, p53, oestrogen and progesterone receptors were made. A review of oesophageal melanomas reported in the literature was also performed. RESULTS: Three cases of primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus were found. They accounted for 3% of melanomas and 0.2% of oesophageal cancers diagnosed. The melanomas were fusiform and large at the time of resection. All three patients died of their malignancy within 9 months of operation. The tumours stained positive for HMB-45 and were negative for p53, oestrogen and progesterone receptors. From previous reports, 154 oesophageal melanomas were documented. The tumours were fusiform, large, often pigmented and located in either the middle or lower oesophagus. Although many oesophageal melanomas presented at early stages (stages I or II), their biological behaviour was aggressive. The 5-year survival rate was 5.7%. CONCLUSIONS: melanoma of the oesophagus is an aggressive tumour. There is no evidence for the p53 gene and female sex hormones having a role in the development or progression of the tumour.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/17. Cutaneous malignant melanoma: Tabuk experience.Cutaneous melanoma (CM) has a rising morbidity and mortality in the western world but is rare in certain geographical areas including the middle east. The aim of this study is to define the pattern of CM in this environment over a period of about two decades. A review of associated histological reports, dermatology, plastic general surgical admissions and outpatient census statistic of the North West Military Hospital (N.W.A.F.H.) were carried out from January 1978 to June 1996. The clinico-therapeutic information from both the review case and newly discovered CM was then studied. The result shows that CM is probably rare in the Tabuk military environment and possibly has a low mortality among the affected individuals. The presence of only 2 cases of CM among 73,955 patients over about 20 years suggests that this neoplasm is rare in N.W.A.F.H. Surgery, with localised expert reconstruction, probably offers the best cure for uncomplicated CM in this area. It is suggested that the geographical environment, genetic attributes, custom, attitude, presence of white, painted, sun-reflecting buildings, traditional dress-code and behaviour of the indigenes probably contribute to the suppression of and protection against CM in Tabuk. It is recommended that regular, antimlanoma education awareness programmes among the indigenes and avoidance of sunbathing attitude of the expatriate community should be encouraged in order to maintain this suggested natural selection protection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/17. Common blue naevus with satellite lesions: possible perivascular dissemination resulting in a clinical resemblance to malignant melanoma.We report a case of common blue naevus with polymorphous guttate and linear satellite lesions, thereby mimicking peripherally spreading malignant melanoma. Histopathologic examination showed that the naevus cells are clustered around blood vessels in the primary as well as satellite lesions, suggestive of spreading of the naevus cells along the perivascular space. Such biological behaviour resulting in a clinical manifestation of a malignant melanoma-like lesion is a rarity in common blue naevus, a benign cutaneous disorder that is devoid of a malignant potential, and has not been described before.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/17. Malignant melanoma of the vagina. A report of 15 cases.Twenty patients affected by vaginal malignant melanoma, 15 of which were evaluable for outcome, were observed from 1969 to 1993. Two patients died postoperatively, nine patients developed recurrences and four patients had no disease-free period. All patients died of their disease and the median overall survival was 19 months. The natural history of vaginal malignant melanoma differs from that of the skin with a more aggressive behaviour. Primary treatment should be wide local excision of the tumor.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/17. Primary orbital melanoma masquerading as vascular anomalies.PURPOSE: To review two cases of primary orbital melanoma presenting like orbital vascular anomalies. methods: Retrospective review of clinical presentation, treatment, radiology and pathology for two patients under the care of the Orbital Clinic at Moorfields eye Hospital. RESULTS: Both lesions presented with the appearance and behaviour of vascular anomalies. In one case, a spindle cell melanoma appeared to be a low flow vascular anomaly with a loculated secondary haemorrhage and, in the other case, a melanoma of soft parts was considered to be an arteriovenous malformation and responded partially to embolisation. CONCLUSION: Primary malignant melanoma may present as a secondary vascular lesion of the orbit and this very rare tumour should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any vascular anomaly.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/17. Mucosal malignant melanomas of the head and neck with special reference to cases having a prolonged clinical course.A histological re-examination and re-classification of primary mucosal tumours of the head and neck region, treated at Radiumhemmet and Karolinska Sjukhuset during the period 1927-1970, revealed that 41 tumours were malignant melanomas. All these 41 tumours were located in the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and oral cavity and not a single case of primary mucosal malignant melanoma was found in other locations of the head and neck region. In the present study, the long-term prognosis has been analysed. The follow-up period was at least 5 years and ranged up to 48 years. It was found that mucosal malignant melanomas had a very poor prognosis with a five year survival rate of 17% (7 of the total 41 cases) and a ten year survival rate of 7% (3 of the total of 41 cases). The unpredictability of the clinical behaviour of this tumour type is elucidated by cases with a prolonged clinical course despite a primary relatively limited surgery, repeated local recurrences and regional lymph node metastases in an early stage of the disease. Thus, there is always a never-ceasing risk of death in the tumour disease when once a malignant melanoma has occurred. For this reason a meticulous and lifelong follow-up of tumour patients is stressed, and also the value of repeated surgery of local recurrences and regional lymph node metastases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/17. Malignant melanoma of the parotid gland.We report a case which demonstrates pitfalls in the management of a parotid gland mass and highlights behaviour of malignant melanoma that is not widely appreciated. The danger of assuming a benign histological diagnosis of such a mass and the subsequent delay of definitive surgery is demonstrated. Metastases within the parotid gland are not uncommon, melanoma being one of the commonest sources. A search should always be made for a primary tumour in the head, neck and chest. This can be made exceptionally difficult by the uncommon phenomenon of spontaneous regression of the primary melanoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/17. Primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus.Primary malignant melanoma arising in the oesophagus is a rare condition with a dismal prognosis. The diagnosis is often made following surgical resection even though the endoscopic features may be pathognomonic. The classical treatment is oesophagectomy even though the advanced disease stage at the time of presentation and aggressive biological behaviour of the tumour usually results in a fatal outcome. We report the case of a male patient initially diagnosed with squamous oesophageal carcinoma and treated with conventional neo-adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy. Poor clinical and radiological response resulted in a review of the original histology confirming a diagnosis of primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus. The subsequent alteration in management conferred the patient an improved quality of life. A short review of the literature on primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus supplements this case report.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/17. Meningeal melanocytoma of the temporal lobe. An uncommon tumor in an unusual location. Case report.Meningeal melanocytomas are rare pigmented tumors of the central nervous system. These tumors are benign melanotic lesions that derive from the melanocytes of the leptomeninges. They may occur anywhere in the cranial and spinal meninges; however, they are found prevalently in the posterior fossa and in the spinal cord. Their epidemiological features, natural history and response to treatment remain poorly understood, even if, in the last 2 years, some reviews have been published about it. We report a new case of intracranial supratentorial meningeal melanocytoma, in the temporal lobe, occurring in a 27-year-old man, admitted to our Institute with a long-time history of seizures. We report histological and radiological characteristics of our case, and briefly review the therapeutical options reported in literature. Preoperative neuroradiological finding is unclear; the preoperative diagnosis is usually meningioma, because of the long duration of symptomatology and the radiological appearance of the lesion as an extra-axial mass. diagnosis of these lesions, as in our case, is made intraoperatively by the gross, jet-black appearance of the tumor and by histological examination. In spite of the benign biologic behaviour, the prognosis remains uncertain, because of the possible local recurrences. According to the results of some works of the last years, it seems appropriate to use postoperative radiotherapy for those patients with symptomatic residual, progressive or recurrent tumors not amenable to further resection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/17. Advanced conjunctival melanoma.BACKGROUND: Conjunctival melanoma is a rare neoplasm with an aggressive behaviour characterized by a high tendency to develop recurrences and metastases. The authors describe the clinicopathological features of four Mexican patients with advanced conjunctival melanoma. methods: review of the cases of four patients with advanced conjunctival melanoma seen at an ophthalmologic referral centre in mexico City. The clinical characteristics, gross findings and histopathological features were noted. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients (two women and two men) was 72 years (range 49 to 95 years).The left eye was affected in three cases and the right eye in one. Orbital exenteration was performed in two patients, enucleation in one and complete excision of the mass in one. One patient died 2 years after debulking surgery, and another patient is alive and free of disease 13 years after enucleation; the two other patients were lost to follow-up.The mean largest mass dimension of the tumours was 4 cm (range 3-5.4 cm). Histopathologically, all cases were associated with primary acquired melanosis with atypia. Two cases were composed of epithelioid cells, one of spindle cells, and one of a mixture of epithelioid and spindle cells. In three cases the number of mitotic figures ranged from 3 to 36/10 high-power fields; no mitotic activity could be demonstrated in one case. INTERPRETATION: The mean age of our patients at the time of diagnosis was older and their tumours were larger than those reported in other series. All the cases were associated with primary acquired melanosis with atypia. At the time of writing, one patient, who had a 3.3-cm tumour, had survived 13 years without clinically detectable disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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